Careers in Physical Therapy
What are physical therapists?
Physical
therapists (PTs) are important members of the health care
team. When people have been injured, are recovering from
certain surgeries, or have conditions such as arthritis,
stroke, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson’s disease,
physical therapists use strategies to reduce pain and help
people become as mobile as possible. Physical therapists
also help people use their bodies correctly, so they don’t
develop pain and disabilities in the first place.
What
do physical therapists do?
PTs first
evaluate their client’s condition. They take a history from
their client and test their client’s strength, endurance,
and balance as well as the mobility of his or her joints.
PTs review and analyze any information that has been
provided to them by a referring physician or other health
professional. Then they develop a treatment plan that is
tailored to the needs and strengths of each client. This
plan includes tasks both for the PT and the client. Often
the PTs’ tasks include teaching their clients exercises and
healthier ways to sit, stand, walk, and lift. PTs may also
do manual manipulation or draw on a growing number of
modalities that include ultrasound and water or electrical
stimulation. When necessary, PTs instruct their clients in
the proper use of assistive devices, such as crutches,
wheelchairs, and prostheses (artificial limbs, etc.)
Clients, in turn need to do the exercises, pay attention to
how they use their bodies, and carry out other agreed upon
treatments.
Where
do physical therapists practice?
More than 65%
of physical therapists practice in private offices,
community health centers, industrial health centers, sports
facilities, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, home
health agencies, schools and pediatric centers. Others
practice in acute care hospitals. Some do research in the
public or private sector. Still others teach in colleges
and universities.
How is physical therapy rated as a
career?
In the April
15, 2007 issue of
Parade, physical
therapists were described as having one the the 6 "hottest
jobs for college graduates". The National Opinion Research
Center reported that more than three-fourths of the
physical therapists they polled said they were "very
satisfied" with their occuption. A study reported in
the
Wall Street Journal's
CareerJournal.com found that PTs' high satisfaction with
their careers is based on such factors as intellectual
stimulation, level of control and freedom, and extensive
direct contact with clients.
Need for PTs
There are more
than 150,000 licensed physical therapists in the United
States who treat nearly 1 million people every day. With
the aging of the Baby Boomer generation, PTs will be more
in demand than ever.
Tribal health programs and the Indian Health Service always
need physical therapists. Community outreach, preventative
education, and cultural appreciation are regarded as key
features of IHS rehabilitation services. Services have been
expanding over the years and include specialty care in such
areas as diabetes, geriatrics, wound care, pediatrics,
specialty hand foot care, orthopedics, and amputee
rehabilitation.
Parts
of this article were first published in the Spring 2003
issue of
Winds of Change. (The cover
artist is Burgess Roye, Ponca.)